Iron County calls off recovery, issues missing person alert

Iron County Sheriff's Office identifes Daniel Michael Brown missing after search and rescue efforts in the area of Kane Springs, ongoing since March 29, have failed to locate him.
Brown is described as a white male weighing 250 pounds. He has green eyes, brown hair and is 6 feet 3 inches tall. Anyone who sees Brown in the area, or notices anything suspicious is asked to contact the Iron County Sheriff’s Office at 435-867-7550. Iron County, Utah, circa March-April 2016 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Office, Cedar City News / St. George News

CEDAR CITY — Following three days of search and rescue and a 3-day recovery operation Iron County law enforcement has called off the search for a man reported missing early Tuesday morning and have also issued a missing person alert.

The search effort that continued for missing 34-year-old Daniel Michael Brown through Saturday and Sunday yielded no new information, according to a press release issued by the Iron County Sheriff’s Office Sunday.

An 18-man crew, some in vehicles, some on foot, along with horses and eight K-9 officers participated in the search.

“Given the area searched on the ground and by air over the course of this operation we were hopeful of some sign of Mr. Brown,” the release stated. “There have been no signs of Mr. Brown within the search area.”

As of Sunday, the recovery efforts have been called off and the family has been notified of the change in status.

“The family is still hopeful Mr. Brown is alive,” said Iron County Sheriff’s Lt. Del Schlosser in the release, “but (they are) understanding of the direction this case has taken,”

Brown’s wife told police she had been stranded on a dirt road near Kane Springs all of Monday night in the family van, Schlosser said, along with their four children, ages 7 months through 11 years old. Kane Springs is just northwest of Parowan and southeast of Minersville.

When the van got stuck Monday evening, Schlosser said, Brown left his wife and children so that he could go and find help.

Though the weather was good enough when he left that he was wearing only a blue T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, a windy storm blew in through the night bringing freezing temperatures with it.

Though Brown was reported to have survival skills, according to an earlier release, by Thursday search crews were less confident that he would be found alive given the weather.

Another theory was that Brown may have walked away and left the area completely, leaving his family behind to fend for themselves, the release reported.

“Investigators will continue to locate any leads of Mr. Brown’s whereabouts,” the release stated.

Brown is described as a white male weighing 250 pounds. He has green eyes, brown hair and is 6 feet 3 inches tall. Anyone who sees Brown in the area, or notices anything suspicious is asked to contact the Iron County Sheriff’s Office at 435-867-7550.

Missing person flyer for Daniel Michael Brown courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar City News / St. George News

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About the Author

Born and raised in South Jersey, Carin Miller moved to Cedar City 20 years ago or so and found her home. A 2012 graduate of Southern Utah University, she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in fine art photography – after dropping out of high school at the age of 16.
Carin proved that with a little determination and hard work anything was possible.
Her love of history and family has compelled her to dig up “Legacies Lost to Time” and share them with the world when she is not busy with either work or her four children.
Having worked for the Iron County Today, Alive Utah South and KCSG Television before landing with St. George News, Carin has covered a wide range of issues, events and happenings throughout the Southern Utah region. https://www.facebook.com/carinmillernews